Colts' Chandler Barnard stays unbeaten -- with some help

Pitcher improves to 7-0 as San Angelo rallies for 6-5 win over Coastal Bend

San Angelo Colts second baseman Jason Diaz attempts to turn a double play during Tuesday night's game against the Coastal Bend Thunder at Foster Field.

San Angelo Colts shortstop Butch Ballez snags a high line drive for an out during Tuesday's game against the Coastal Bend Thunder at Foster Field.

San Angelo Colts starter Chandler Barnard notches a win against the Coastal Bend Thunder to improve to 7-0 on the season.

SAN ANGELO, Texas - The San Angelo Colts keep on winning, especially when Chandler Barnard is on the mound.

The right-hander improved to a league-leading 7-0, while the Colts kept their comfortable lead atop the standings with a 6-5 win Tuesday over Coastal Bend.

But Barnard had to get some serious help from his teammates this time.

The Colts’ offense scored five runs in the sixth inning to give Barnard the lead, then after Barnard let the Thunder pull to within a run, relievers Jameson Maj and Chace Vacek came on and shut out Coastal Bend the rest of the way to preserve the win.

“It’s really a team statistic I think,” Barnard said of his 7-0 record. “You can pitch a complete game and give up one run, but if the offense doesn’t score, you’re not gonna win. So that statistic really is a tribute to those guys hitting the ball and those relievers.

“Maj has been absolutely lights out to come in and close the door when we’ve got the lead.”

The Colts are now 23-10, while Coastal Bend fell to 17-16.

The Colts appeared to take control with a five-run sixth inning — highlighted by a three-run blast by Ronnie Gaines — that vaulted them into a 6-1 lead.

But the Thunder came right back, lighting up Barnard for four runs in the top of the seventh to pull to within 6-5.

The final pitch Barnard threw was crushed over the left field fence by Manny Mejia.

Barnard still left to a nice ovation, and Maj came in from the bullpen, striking out the next batter to get out of the inning.

Maj then blanked Coastal Bend in the eighth, and Vacek finished off the game in the ninth.

“Maj and Vacek are just starting to be outstanding right now, and this is the time of year you want to do it,” Colts manager Doc Edwards said, “because if you can get out and get a couple games lead, you want to hold on to what you have. And they definitely came in today and brought us home.”

Gaines finished a double shy of the cycle to lead the way offensively. Hunter Jobes also had three hits, all singles.

Coastal Bend took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but San Angelo answered in the fifth thanks to a solo home run by Jason Landreth.

The Colts then took the lead for good in the sixth inning — despite some late scares — when Nick Mahin scored on a wild pitch, just beating the throw back to the plate.

Coastal Bend was inches from tying the game in the eighth when Alfred Joseph attempted to score from third while the Colts’ infielders were occupied with a rundown between first and second, but first baseman Josh Collazo fired home just in time, and catcher Alex Herrnberger tagged Joseph out.

“All those things happen in a game, and if you make the plays on them, you win. And if you don’t, you lose,” Edwards said. “Right now, we’re doing the things we need to do to win.”